Rack for ice cubes and other trays



Feb. 1o, 1953 D, H BITNEY 2,627,981'v RACK FOR ICE CUBES AND OTHER TRAYS Filed NOV. 3, 1947 11 -4' u 7 1?/ Z0, Q

7 JNVENTpR. I] Bewef H. Elf/7e? ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 10, 1953 RACK FOR ICE CUBES AND `OTHER TRAL'Sy Dewey H. Btney, Albion, Mich., assgnor to Union Steel Products Company, Albion, Mich.

Application November 3, 1947, serial No. '783,719

(C1. zii-.71)

8 Claims. 1

This invention relates to improvements in rack for ice cube and other trays.

The main objects of this invention are:

First, to provide a rack adapted to hold a plurality of ice cube trays of the iiexible or bendable type in which the trays are effectively and individually supported permitting the selective placement and removal of particu-lar trays and the substitution of other trays.

Second, to provide a tray rack or holder which is well adapted for use in so-called deep freeze units or other units, the rack permitting the handling of la plurality of trays in placing and removing them from the unit and the individual manipulation of the trays in placing or removing them from the rack.

Third, to provide a rack having the advantages described which is of large capacity in proportion to its size and is light in weight and at the same time strong and -rigi-d.

Fourth, to provide a r-ack having these advantages which is economical to produce and easily kept sanitary, the parts being all formed of wire stock except the handle which is non-metallic in order to prevent freezing to the hand of the usci' when removing the rack from ya deep freeze or other refrigerating unit.

Further objects and advantages pertaining to the details and ec-onomies of my invention will be apparent from Ia considerati-on of the following description and claims.

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a rack embodying my invention with trays indicated therein by dotted lines.

Fig. 2 is an end elevation, parts `being broken to show structural detail.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view, the handle grip being shown in dotted lines in order to better disclose other structural details.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view parti-ally in horizontal section fon the line corresponding to the line 4 4, Fig. 5 and partially broken away, of a modied form or embodiment of my invention.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary end elevational View of the structure shown in Fig. 4 with trays shown by dotted lines on certain of the tray supports.

There are many demands 'or requirements for considerable quantities of ice cubes both for domestic and business purposes, for example, for domestic uses in the making of ice cream and other frozen foods and also where considerable quantities of iced beverages are dispensed or served. The rack of my invention is designed to .hold a plurality of ice c-ubetrays placed with the trays therein in a quick freeze or other re- 2 frigerating runit for freezing. It will be appreciated that the factors of sanitation and coinpactness are important. The rack is adapted to receive other shapes or receptacles.

The embodiment of my invention shown in Figs. i to 3 is designed for the supporting of trays I shown by dotted lines, these trays having a plurality of transversely :disposed rows of com `pertinents 2 separate-d by transverse downwardly opening recesses 3.

AIt is now common to make these trays of a nexi-ble or bendable plastic, the trays being bent or flexed to release the cubes. In the embodiment shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the tray li shown by Idotted lines may be of th-e metal type or they may be pans or dishes designed to contain some food product which it is desired to freeze.

The embodiment of my invention shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 comprises iront uprights 5, rear top and bottom members 6 and 1 and end top and bottom members y8 and 9. These parts are formed integrally of wire of suitable gauge, th-e top and bottom end members connecting the uprights and the top and bottom rear members. Rear uprights 20 are welded or otherwise fixedly secured to the outer sides of the top and bottom rear members. These rear uprights are laterally spaced and desirably forme'd'of wire. The en-d uprights I9 also formed of wire are secured upon the outer sides of the top and bottom end members. A horizontal bottom member Il likewise of wire is secured upon the upper sides of the bottom end members adjacent the front uprights. These sev-eral parts are ldesirably secured together by electric welds `as indi-cated at II (see the lower front corner of Fig. 2) but various other welds are not illustrated as the welding of wire parts in racks is understood in the art.

The handle comprises opposed angled mem bers I2 which are welded to the outer sides of the top end members 8 with their inner ends in opposed spaced relati-on, as shown in Fig. 3, to receive the grip I3 which is preferably of plastic or other suitable non-metallic material, providing a grip that will not freeze to the hands when the rack is lifted or removed from a deep freeze unit. A plurality of tray supporting arms I4 are provided, these arms being arranged in vertically spaced sets there being a pair of arms in each set in the embodiment shown in Figs. l, 2 and 3. These arms I4 are formed from loops of wire disposed vertically edgewise with their bghts I5 forwardly, their arms being welded as indicated aty I6 tospaced rear uprights. 'I'he spacing of the arms is such that' they will receive the downwardly opening recesses or trays such as l so that the trays may be positioned on and removed from the arms individually, the trays being vertically spaced so that the trays are out of contact. The bights of the arms provide curved guiding ends for the trays and also the arms are very rigid and not likely to be broken from the uprights.

In the embodiment shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the tray supports I8 are U-shaped and disposed horizontally, their arms Il welded to rear uprights as shown at H. These tray supporting supports I8 provide shelf like supports for trays or receptacles such as are indicated in Fig. 5 by dotted lines.

The racks of my invention may be economically produced, they are easily kept sanitary and are light in weight and at the same time strong and durable.

I have illustrated and described my invention in highly practical embodiments thereof. I have not attempted to illustrate or describe other embodiments or adaptations as it is believed that this disclosure will enable those skilled in the art to embody or adapt my invention as may be desired.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A racl; for ice trays, said trays each coinprising a plurality of transversely disposed rows of compartments having downwardly opening transverse recesses between the rows, in com-- bination with a frame comprising front uprights and top and bottom rear members disposed generally horizontally and spaced rearwardly from said uprights and connected to the upper and lowerl ends of the uprights by top and bottom end members, said uprights, top and bottom rear membersk and top and bottom i `said top and bottom end members, a horizontal bottom member ixedly secured upon the upper sides of the bottom end lmembers adjacent the said front uprights, a plurality 'of vertically spaced pairs of tray supporting arms comprising loops of wire disposed vertically edgewise with their bights forwardly and their rear ends xedly secured to said spaced rear uprights, said pairs of supporting arms being vertically spaced to permit sliding engagement of trays therewith with the arms disposed within transverse recesses thereof, and a handle comprising opposed angled handle members secured to the outer sides oi` the top and a non-metallic grip between and carried oy said handle members.

2'. A rack for ice trays, said trays each comprising a plurality of transverselydisposed rows of compartments having downwardly opening transverse recesses between the rows, in oombination with a frame comprising front uprights and top and bottom rear members lisposed generally horizontally and spaced rearwardly from said uprights and connected to the upper and lower ends' of the uprights by top and bottom end members, said uprights' top `and bottom rear members and top and bottom end members being formed of an integral wire-like member bent rearwardly at the upper and lower ends of the uprights to provide said top and bottom end members and bent inwardly at the rear ends of said top and bottom end members to provide said top and bottom rear members, rear uprights xedly secured in laterally spaced relation to the rear sides of said top and bottom rear members, and upright members iixedly secured to the outer sides of said top and bottom end members, a horizontal bottom member flxedly secured upon the upper sides of the bottom end members adjacent the said front uprights, a plurality of vertically spaced pairs of tray supporting arms comprising loops of wire disposed vertically edgewise with their'bights forwardly and their rear ends xedly secured to said spaced rear uprights, said pairs of supporting arms being vertically spaced to permit sliding engagement of trays therewith with the arms disposed within transverse recesses thereof.

3. A rack for ice trays, said trays each comprising a plurality of transversely disposed rows or" compartments having downwardly opening transverse recesses between the rows, in combination with a frame comprising front uprights and top and bottom rear members disposed generally horizontally and spaced rearwardly from said uprights and connected to the upper and lower ends of the uprights by top and bottom end members, said front uprights being integral with the said top and bottom end members and bent rearwardly at their upper and lower ends to provide said end members, rear uprights ixedly secured in laterally spaced relation to the rear sides of said top and bottom rear members, and upright members xedly secured to the outer sides of said top and bottom end members, a horizontal bottom member fixedly secured upon the upper sides of the bottom end members adjacent the said front uprights'-, a plurality of sets of tray supporting arms having their rear ends iixedly secured to said spaced` rear uprights to project forwardly therefrom, said sets of supporting arms being vertically spaced to permit sliding engagement of trays therewith with the arms disposed within transverse recesses thereof.

4. A rack for ice trays, said trays each comprising a plurality of transversely disposed rows of compartments having downwardly opening transverse recesses between the rows, in combination with a frame comprising front uprights and top and bottom rear members disposed generally horizontally and spaced rearwardly from said uprights and connected to the top and bottom portions of the uprights by top and bottom end members, said front uprights being integral with the said top and bottom end members and bent rearwardly at their upper and lower ends to provide said end members, rear uprights fixedly secured in laterally spaced relation to the said top and bottom rear members, end upright members xedly secured to the outer sides of said top and bottom end members, a horizontal bottom member extending between and secured to the end members, vertically spaced tray supporting arms having their rear ends iixedly secured to said spaced rear uprights to project forwardly therefrom, said supporting arms' being spaced toA permit sliding engagement of trays therewith the arms disposed within transverse recesses thereof and supporting the trays to permit selective positioning and removal thereof without disturbing other trays.

5. A rack for ice trays, said trays each comprising a plurality of transversely disposed rows of compartments having downwardly opening transverse recesses between the rows, in combination with a frame comprising front uprights and top and bottom rear members disposed generally horizontally and spaced rearwardly from Said uprights and connected to the top and bottom portions of the uprights by top and bottom end members, said front uprights being integral with the said top and bottom end members and bent rearwardly at their upper and lower ends to provide said end members, rear uprights xedly secured in laterally spaced relation to the said top and bottom rear members, vertically spaced tray supporting arms having their rear ends xedly secured to said spaced rear uprights to project forwardly therefrom, vsaid supporting arms being spaced to permit sliding engagement of trays therewith with the arms disposed within transverse recesses thereof and supporting the trays to permit selective positioning and removal thereof without disturbing other trays.

6. In a rack for trays, the combination of a frame comprising front uprights and top and bottom rear members disposed generally horizontally and spaced rearwardly from said uprights and connected to the top and bottom portions of the uprights by top and bottom end members, said uprights, top and bottom rear members and top and bottom end members being formed of an integral wire-like member bent rearwardly at the upper and lower ends of the uprights to provide said top and bottom end members and bent inwardly at the rear ends of said top and bottom end members to provide said top and bottom rear members, rear uprights xedly secured in laterally spaced relation to said top and bottom rear members, end upright members Xedly secured to the said top and bottom end members, a horizontal bottom member extending between and secured to the bottom end members, and a plurality of vertically spaced tray supporting arms having their rear ends Xedly secured to said spaced rear uprights, said arms being horizontally disposed and projecting forwardly from said rear uprights, said rear uprights constituting the sole supports for said arms to facilitate insertion of the tra-ys into the rack and onto said arms.

7. In a rack for trays, the combination of a ira-me comprising front uprights and top and bottom rear members disposed generally horizontally and spaced rearwardly from said uprights and connected to the top and bottom portions of the uprights by top and bottom end members, said front uprights being integral with the said top and bottom end members and bent rearwardly at their upper and lower ends to provide said end members, rear uprights iixedly secured in laterally spaced relation to said top and bottom rear members, end upright members xedly secured to the said top and bottom end members, a horizontal bottom member extending between and secured to the bottom end members, and a plurality of vertically spaced horizontally disposed U-shaped tray supports having their arms secured to said spaced rear uprights, the supports being vertically spaced to receive a plurality of trays and permit selective positioning and removal thereof.

8. A rack for trays, the combination of a frame comprising front uprights and top and bottom rear members disposed generally horizontally and spaced rearwardly from said uprights and connected to the top and bottom portions of the uprights by top and bottom end members, said front uprights being integral with the said top and bottom end members and bent rearwardly at their upper and lower ends to provide said end members, rear uprights xedly secured in laterally spaced relation to said top and bottom rear members, and a plurality of vertically spaced tray supporting arms having their rear ends fxedly secured to said spaced rear uprights, the arms being vertically spaced to receive a plurality of trays and permit selective positioning and removal thereof, said arms being horizontally disposed and pro- ,iecting forwardly from said rear uprights, said rear uprights constituting the sole supports for said arms to facilitate insertion of the trays into the rack and onto said arms.

DEW'EY I-I. BITNEY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date D. 130,632 Millberg Dec. 2, 1941 D. 139,005 Adams Oct. 3, 1944 355,733 Umstadter Jan. 11, 1887 941,653 Rothengatter Nov. 30, 1909 1,265,569 Willis May 7, 1918 1,267,524 Elwart May 28, 1918 1,333,600 Bell Mar. 16, 1920 1,379,379 Abrahmsen May 24, 1921 1,461,474 Breer July 10, 1923 1,578,493 Winton Mar. 30, 1926 1,672,245 Burkhardt June 5, 1928 1,820,497 Rose Aug. 25, 1931 1,865,582 Nusbaum July 5, 1932 1,888,141 Orth Nov. 15, 1932 1,927,997 Weston Sept. 26, 1933 1,989,275 Hatch Jan. 29, 1935 2,420,940 Eldridge May 20, 1947 

